A 35-year-old suspect who was arrested in connection with the murder of two young girls is due to appear in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court today.

Police arrested the suspect in Akasia, north of Pretoria, on Sunday.

Tinyiko (7) and Mpfumo (4) Mashaba were burnt to death on June 2 at 19:30 when armed suspects ran amok in the informal settlement.

Tinyiko was a Grade 2 learner at Lesedi Primary School in Soshanguve.

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the suspects arrived at a shebeen in the Changing Spot Informal Settlement and fired shots at patrons.

They then went to a shack in the area and allegedly set it on fire. The two girls, who were sleeping inside the shack, burnt to death. They were certified dead on the scene.

“Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects were after the father of the girls, who was not at home during the incident,” he says.

Masondo says police have recovered a vehicle that was allegedly used during the commission of the crime.

The suspect faces four counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder, he adds.

Other suspects might be arrested, pending further investigation, says Masondo.

According to family spokesperson Klaas Mashaba, the family is still trying to process the tragedy and appreciates the community’s support.

“We are still traumatised because no child deserves to die in such conditions.

“We urge the community to come forward with information because that will help speed up the process of arresting the suspects who did this,” says Mashaba.

He thanked the community for their support during this difficult time.